What The Tech Podcast (AU)

AI Is Changing Software Development — But There’s a Catch w/ Gerardo Estaba

AI is changing the software development lifecycle — from how ideas are prototyped, to how products are built, secured and shipped. In this episode of What The Tech Podcast (AU), Rene and Vivienne sit down with Gerardo Estaba from Supabase to explore the rise of the AI development lifecycle and what it means for developers, founders, product teams and modern organisations. We unpack how AI-assisted coding, vibe coding, Postgres, open-source platforms and tools like Supabase are changing the way software gets built. Gerardo also explains why many teams do not really have a scaling problem — they have a complexity problem — and why faster software development can create bigger risks if security, data access and engineering fundamentals are ignored. In this episode, we cover: • How AI is compressing the traditional software development lifecycle • Why vibe coding is helping more people become software builders • How Supabase simplifies the backend for modern applications • Why Postgres still matters in the AI era • The difference between building a prototype and shipping production software • Why prompt-based security is not enough • How row-level security helps protect data access • Why technical debt may increase as more non-technical users build apps • Why deep engineering judgement still matters when AI writes more code • How open-source platforms reduce vendor lock-in • What software development could look like in the next few years This episode is for developers, founders, product leaders, AI builders and anyone trying to understand where software development is heading next. Subscribe to What The Tech Podcast (AU) for grounded conversations on AI, software, data and the future of technology. Newsletter: www.whatthetech.com.au [http://www.whatthetech.com.au]

Who Owns Your Data in the AI Era? w/ Dr Sue Keay

In this episode of What The Tech Podcast (AU), we sat down with Dr Sue Keay – a leading voice in Australia’s AI and robotics ecosystem – to explore a question shaping the future of technology: Who owns the data behind AI — and who really benefits from it? As artificial intelligence moves from hype to real-world adoption, the conversation is no longer just about what AI can do. It’s about data ownership, decision-making, and how organisations build capability in an increasingly complex landscape. We unpack what AI adoption actually looks like on the ground in Australia today, why many organisations are still stuck in experimentation, and what separates those who deliver real outcomes from those who fall behind. We also explore the growing importance of AI enablement inside organisations, the role of leadership and culture, and why data is becoming a true source of competitive advantage. This is a grounded, practical conversation about AI in the real world — from boardrooms to industry, not theory or hype. If you work in tech, leadership, or policy or are trying to understand where AI is heading in Australia, this episode will challenge how you think about data, ownership, and innovation. 🎧 New episodes monthly You can also follow us on Substack [www.whatthetech.com.au]

How AI Shapes Product Design w/ CJ

In this episode of What The Tech Podcast (AU), we sit down with Christina Jones, Head of Design at Canva, to explore a question shaping the future of creativity: How does AI change the way we design products used by millions of people? As generative AI becomes embedded into everyday tools, design is no longer just about layout and aesthetics. It’s about systems thinking, experimentation, evaluation frameworks, and making responsible choices at scale. We unpack what “good design” means in the age of AI, how teams evaluate AI-generated images and content before they reach users, and why AI literacy is becoming a core skill for designers and product leaders alike. Christina also shares insights on ethics, originality, cultural context, and the tension between automation and human craft. This is a grounded, practical conversation about building AI responsibly inside real products — not theory, not hype. If you work in tech, product, design, innovation, or policy, this episode will challenge how you think about creativity in the AI era. 🎧 New episodes monthly You can also follow us on Substack [www.whatthetech.com.au]

Australia versus Big Tech w/ Dave Lemphers

In the Season 2 opener of What The Tech Podcast (AU), we sat down with Dave Lemphers, CEO and co-founder of Maincode, to ask a question Australia can no longer ignore: Should Australia build its own AI or stay dependent on Big Tech? Recorded ahead of Maincode’s public showcase of Matilda, an Australian-developed AI model, this episode cuts through hype to explore what Australian-made AI really means in practice. We unpacked open-source vs closed models, data sovereignty, AI agents vs chatbots, enterprise readiness, and the real trade-offs between speed, control, and capability. Dave brings a grounded, engineering-first perspective on why many organisations aren’t ready for full autonomy yet and what Australia must do to move from AI consumer to AI builder. If you care about Australia’s role in the global AI landscape, this episode is for you. 🎧 New episodes monthly 📬 Also available as a newsletter on Substack [www.whatthetech.com.au]

Cisco Live Melbourne Exec Interview w/ Julie Canepa (Part 2)

In Part 2 of our Cisco exec series from Cisco Live Melbourne 2025, we sat down with Julie Canepa—long-time Cisco IT leader and former CIO for Australia & New Zealand who later led digital transformation and CX programs across Asia Pacific, Japan & China—to unpack how AI strategy becomes real business impact. We cover moving from pilots to scale, building guardrails that accelerate delivery, linking AI to customer-experience KPIs, and reskilling teams for “everyday AI.” What you’ll learn: * The scale playbook: ownership, controls, and value stories that land with the business. * People–Process–Technology: raising AI fluency and reskilling at speed. * Measuring what matters: tying AI to CX and board-level outcomes. * “Everyday AI”: practical agent patterns beyond the demo stage. Guest: Julie Canepa (Cisco ANZ CIO; APJC digital transformation/CX leader). Series: Special Cisco Executive Interviews — Part 2 (recorded around Cisco Live Melbourne 2025).